The Press., 1887-12-29
To the editor of The Press: As

To the editor of The Press: As consid- erable space was given in your paper last week concerning the resignation of Rev.L. L. Potter from tho pastorate of the 1st Baptlst church in Hartford, caused by his change of views concerning church ''pol- ity," as is expressed in his letter of resig- nation which you copy, perhaps you will make room for the following comment on Mir. Potter's course from the pen of Rev. s. D. Phelps, long the esteemed pastor of the 1st Baptist church in New Haven, and of recent years the accomplished editor of the Christian Secretary, Hartford
 We are greatly surprised and pained at the happening of the unexpected. We mean the sudden, lateral, derailing move. ment of our dear friend, Rev. L. l.. Potter, Ph. D., for few years the pastor of the First Baptist church in Hartford. How can we account for this :? What swaying force or forces have assailed him? Ac- quainted with this bright son from his childhood, knowing and loving his hon. ored father many years, one of our true and useful ministers, and the dear sainted Lester Lewis after whom the son was nam. d -Baptists both of the genuine Bible type we wonder again at this step. We du not see any reason for it, but we suppose there must be one or more. We heartily respect person who follows his honest convictions, growing out of truth-loving, prayerful study of Gods Word and if ouI young brothers change hence arises, we have for him DO censure. Only we marvel | how & spiritual, conscientious, liberal mind | ed, great hearted, BaptiSt-all true ones being generally such-can ever be nything else. But once in awhile one does side away, for cause we suppose i; and we have | to say, go in peace, and God bless you. The mountain stands, though stone break loose and roll down into the vale. The church remains true, founded on the Rock. Another fills the vacancy. The great de nomination, now nearly three millions in membership in this country, scarcely noti ces the dropping out of a minister, but moves on in the grand work and witness with numerous accessions of ministers from other persuasions, constrained to obey theil Saviour and Lord in his appointed and seIf-observed ordinance, toward which mul | titudes in all churches are drawn in the deep conviction of their souls that it is the right way, but. Loyalty to Christ the l Head of the church, obedience to the Di vine Word, this is the distlng uishing prin ciple of tue Baptists. That the iniatiatory ordinance is the immersion of believer has been settled by the practice of the first Christian centuries and the highest schol arship of the latest. Here it is in brief as found in the best authority, Thayer's Greek English Lexicon of the New Testament un der the word BaotisnsG. Christian bap tism this, according to the view of the apostles, is rite of sacred immersion, com handed by Christ, by which men, confess ing their sins and protesting their faith in Christ and born again by the Holy Spiri unto new life come into the fellowship O. Christ and the church." We seem to set the dear Lord looking down with mos loving tenderness upon those whom he has redeemed at such infinite cost to himself and saying, ''If ye love me, ye will keeE my commandments"
 | Wilmington, Dec. M, 1887.